Suzuki Roshi often taught "things as it is, things as they are" as a worldview to relieve suffering. How can we learn to live in response to our direct experience of ourselves and the world, rather than in habitual reaction to preconditioned, fixed views?

In this four-week class, we will explore Buddha's magnificent teaching of the Four Divine Abidings as gates to a truly human life characterized by acceptance, gratitude and freedom. A variety of modes of self-study will be used, including physical practices, speech study, and journaling. Class members have the opportunity to deepen their study and practice in the half-day sitting on Saturday afternoon, May 31. (Please register separately for the half-day sitting.)

Shosan Victoria AustinShosan Victoria Austin began practicing both Zen and yoga in 1971. In the Soto Zen tradition, she is entrusted as a Dharma heir in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki, an international priest of the Soto School, and a Dharma teacher at San Francisco Zen Center. She trained in the U.S., in India, and in Japan. In the Iyengar tradition, she is certified as an Intermediate teacher.

Tokuden Shinki Mark LancasterTokuden Shinki Mark Lancaster has been practicing at San Francisco Zen Center since 1988. Mark was Shuso in 1997, ordained by Michael Wenger in 2002 and received Dharma Transmission from Michael Wenger in 2006. He is currently the Director of People Development.